US President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC.
Day 158 | Trump says Iran facing “last chance before decapitation”
US President Donald Trump said Monday that negotiations with Iran were ongoing despite Tehran's denials and the Islamic Republic was facing a "last chance before decapitation."
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said he agreed to continue to pursue talks with Iran at the request of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other countries.
Iran's foreign ministry denied on Monday that negotiations with Washington were taking place, but Trump insisted they were. "We are talking right now," he said.
"This is a last chance for them to sign a good document," the US president added.
"I want to give them every last chance before decapitation."
The talks are focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump said could come "literally by tomorrow," and the denuclearization of Iran, which he said could "take a little while."
Washington and Tehran have been at war since February 28, when the United States and ‘Israel’ launched surprise strikes against Iran, though months of on-and-off diplomacy have led to periods of relative calm.
More than five months later, Iran remains able to fire missiles and drones at US and allied targets in the region and retains its enriched uranium stockpiles.
In what has become a familiar pattern, Trump last week had threatened to hit Iran "very hard" -- potentially with renewed attacks against energy infrastructure -- only to pull back on Saturday, saying the "perimeters" of a deal were there.
Iran, for its part, said it is not currently negotiating with the United States.
"Our negotiations are with Oman to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the critical oil corridor, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.
Hormuz has been a major sticking point in efforts to end the war. Since a ceasefire broke down, Iran has reprised a blockade of the waterway that it first imposed early in the war, obstructing vessels attempting to pass and firing on commercial ships.
Pezeshkian says Iran does not seek wider war
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Tehran is defending its borders but does not seek to expand the war, according to Iranian state media.
Pezeshkian said Iran must, under the current circumstances, build a society that its enemies cannot exploit, penetrate, or undermine.
His remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were under way. Tehran has denied there are any plans to hold negotiations with Washington.
Iran cancelled plans to strike Ukraine after apology, official says
Iran canceled plans to strike three sites in Ukraine after Kyiv apologized for a July 25 attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, according to Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Speaking to Iranian state television, Rezaei said Iran's armed forces had completed preparations for the operation before it was called off following the Ukrainian government's apology. Iranian authorities said one crew member was killed in the reported strike.
Rezaei also warned that Iran would not allow maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz outside routes designated by Tehran, saying any hostile naval vessel attempting to use an "illegal route" would be targeted.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last week he had received assurances from his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, that the strike on the Iranian vessel was unintentional and that Ukraine was not seeking further escalation.
Iraq hopeful of reaching ‘significant understanding’ with Iran on Hormuz
Iraq's Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair said Baghdad is holding talks with Iran to ensure the smooth flow of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA).
Khudair said he hopes the discussions will lead to "significant understandings" in the coming days that will help protect shipping routes and facilitate the safe passage of oil shipments and tankers through the strategic waterway.
VIDEO - Trump: Ongoing talks are Iran's “last chance before decapitation”
President Donald Trump says the US and Iran are actively engaged in negotiations despite Tehran's denials and warns that Iran faces its "last chance to sign" a good deal. "We are talking, right now," Trump tells reporters, adding, "I want to give them every last chance before decapitation."
UKMTO says cargo ship hit by projectile off Oman coast
A cargo ship was struck by an unidentified projectile about 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday morning.
UKMTO said it received a report of the incident in waters northeast of Khasab, in northern Oman.
No immediate details were provided on casualties, the extent of the damage, or the identity of those responsible.
VIDEO - Trump says he stopped “biggest attack since WWII” on Iran
US President Donald Trump says that negotiations with Iran are happening "right now," describing it as a final opportunity for Tehran to make a deal.
Talks are "going on right now," Trump tells journalists at the White House, adding: "And they'll sometimes deny it, even though they spend hours and hours together talking."
He also adds that he called off an attack that would’ve been the biggest “since World War II”.
Iranian media alleges explosions in Kuwait
Iranian state-affiliated news outlets said, citing reports, that “powerful explosions” took place in Kuwait.
Early unverified reports say a fire broke out at Al Doha military base in north Kuwait.
No official statements from Kuwaiti authorities were issued, and the reports remain unverified so far.
Trump says Iran facing “last chance before decapitation”
US President Donald Trump said Monday that negotiations with Iran were ongoing despite Tehran's denials and the Islamic Republic was facing a "last chance before decapitation."
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said he agreed to continue to pursue talks with Iran at the request of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other countries.
Iran's foreign ministry denied on Monday that negotiations with Washington were taking place, but Trump insisted they were. "We are talking right now," he said.
"This is a last chance for them to sign a good document," the US president added. "I want to give them every last chance before decapitation."
The talks are focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump said could come "literally by tomorrow," and the denuclearization of Iran, which he said could "take a little while."
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Read more: Day 157 | Trump pauses Iran strike plans as Oman talks near final stage
